Hat-blocker.



C. V. MILLIGAN. HAT BLOCKER. APPLICATION FILED APR. Is. 19u.

I I Y Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

R6* ATTORNE s.

. APPLICATION FILED APR. I6. 1917- hm C. V. MILLIGAN. HAT LocKER.

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GLIFFOBJD V. MILJEGAN, OF HOUSTON, TRAS.

H'ILBLCKEFI.

Speciication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1212.

Application tiled April 16, 1917. Serial No. 162,444.

of the invention resides vin the provision of a machine of the characterdescribed which may bel readily adjusted so as to form a rough hat intoany desirable shape and to give it thev required size.

A. further feature of the invention resides in the provision of acomparatively simple machine which may be cheaply constructed and easilyand quickly operated to accomplish the purposes for which itis designed.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particularrelation to certain novel features of construction, operation andarrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specificationand illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the deviceshowing the hat therein, in position to be blocked Fig. 2 is afragmentary transverse sectional view showing the hat blocked.

Fig. 3 shows a bottom plan view of the flange, showing the sizertherein.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the complete machine in position ready foroperation.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the machine in operation.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals ofreference designate similar parts in each of the iigures, the numeral 1refers to a hollow fiange stand within the wall of which is the annularsteam chamber 2 communicating with which is the steam inlet pipe 3 andthe steam outlet pipe 4. The lower part of this Harige stand has theannular flange 5 integral therewith. The numeral 6 refers to a crownblock having a central chamber 7 communieating with which are the inletand outlet 8 and 9, the crown'of said block being oval and provided witha plurality of perforations 10.

The working parts of the machine are mounted upon a table 11. The crownblock: 6 1s fixed to the upper end of the externally threaded shaft 12.vThisshaft is threaded through a bearing 13, carried by the table and 1smanipulated by a hand wheel 14: fixed to the lower end thereof.Extending upwardly from the back part of the table is an arm 15 pivotedto which is the lever 16 whose Lforward end is attached to and supportsthe flange stand. The other end of this lever is operatively connectedwith a foot pedal 17 through any suitable mechanism whereby the levermay be manipulated to lift the flange stand into the position shown inFig 4, or to lower it into operative position as shown 1n Fig. 5. Thismechanism for manipulating said lever is in common use in steam clothespressing machines and it is not thought necessary to describe samei'ndetail.

Tn the operation of blocking a hat, the brim 18 is fitted over the crownblock 6, said block gradually flaring downwardly and forming a supportfor said brim. The sizer 19 is then fitted over the crown block andadjusted to the desired size through the medium of a turn buckle 20. Therough hat 21, to be formed is then fitted over the crown block, the brimof the hat resting upon the brim 18 of the block. There is interposed,however, between the block 6 and the crown of the hat, a thick padding22 of felt or other soft material. By a suitable manipulation of thefoot pedal 17, the forward end of the lever 16 is lowered, bringing theflange 5 down on to the hat brim and clamping it between said flange andbrim 18 as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the flange stand 1 at the same timefitting closely around the crown of the hat.

For the purpose of giving the top of the i crown the desired shape, latopper 23 is provided. This topper is carried by the lower end of thescrew shaft 24, said shaft being manipulated by the hand wheel 25 andbeing threaded through the internally threade bearing 26 which is fixedin position above the stand 1 by means of the standards 27, 27. Theshaft 24 has a swiveling connection with the topper 23 so as to rotateindependently thereof. By the rotation ofthe shaft 24, the topper may beforced downwardly against the top of the crown and said crown given Teasob

pipe 3 and any desirable shape in accordance with the contour of theunder side of the topper. When the topper is screwed down into positionagainst the crown ofthe hat, steam 1s admitted into the chamber 2through the passes thence'through the orifices 28 through the inner wallof the flange stand and out through the pipe 4. At the same time steamis admitted through the pipe 8 into the chamber 7 and passes thencethrough the orifices 10 and out through the outlet pipe 9. The hot steamthus passes through the fabric and makes the same soft and pliable sothat it will receive the desired form while being blocked. These steampipes are controlled by suitable foot4 pedals 1n the manner now incommon use in steam pressing machines.

lWhile this machine has been designed particularly for blocking hats, inthe rough, it may also be used for reblocking and reforming used hats.

What I claim is:

l. A hat blocker including a block, a brim carried thereby, annularflange ladapted to fit over said block to give form to the hat on saidblock, said block and stand being provided with conduits to permit thepassage' of steam through said hat.

2. A hat blocker including a block, a detachable brim carried thereby, asizer surrounding the block adjacent the brim, a flange stand adapted tofit over the block and a flange carried by said stand and opposing andcoperating with said brim.

3. A hat blocker including a hollow block for forming a hat crownprovided with per,- forations, adetachable brim carried therey, a siZersurroundin the block adjacent the brim, a flange stand provided withperforations adapted to fit over the hat crown, a flange carried by saidstand and adapted to coperate with the brim to clamp the hat brimbetween said flange and brim, and conduits through which steam. may bepassed through said perforations.

4. A hat blocker including a block for forming a hat crown, a detachablebrim carried thereby, a sizer surrounding the block adjacent the brim, aflange stand adapted to lit over the hat crown, a flange carried by saidstand and adapted to coperate with the brim to clamp the hat brimbetween said flange and brim, and an adjustable topper adapted to fitinto the flange stand against the hat crown.

5. A hat blocker including a hollow block whose crown is provided with aplurality of steam passageways therefor, a Steam inlet and a steamoutlet communicat` ing with the interior of the block, a detachable brimcarried by the block, a flange stand a flange stand having an` adaptedto t over said block the lower part of said stand being formed into aflange which coperates with said brim to form the hat brim therebetween,a topper adapted to rest against'and give form to the crown of the hatand means for adjusting said topper.

6. A hat blocker including a hollow block whose crown is provided with afplurality of steam passageways, an adjustable support whereon saidblock is mounted, a steam inlet and a steam outlet communicating withthe interior of said block, a detachable 4brim carried by the block, asizer surrounding the block adjacent the brim, a flange stand adapted tofit over the hat being formed on said block, said stand being formedinto a flange adjacent the brim and which coperates with said brim toform the hat brim, said stand having an annular internal steam chamberand the interior wall thereof being provided with a plurality of steampassageways, a steam inlet and outlet communicating with said chamberand a topper adapted to operate against the hat crown to give formthereto.

7. A hat blocker including a hollow block whose crown is provided with aplurality of steam passageways, a support for said block, a steam inletand a steam outlet communicating with the interior ofthe block, a brimcarried by the block, a sizer surrounding the block'adjacent the brim, aflange stand adapted to fit over the hat being formed on said block,said stand being formed into a flange adjacent the brim which coperateswith said brim, said stand having an internal steam chamber and theinner wall thereof being provided with a plurality of steam passageways,an inlet and an outlet for said chamber, and means for manipulating thestand relative to the block.

8. A hat blocker including a block for forming a hat crown, a brimcarried thereby, a s1zer surrounding the block, a flange stand adaptedto fit over the hat crown, a flange carried by said stand and adapted tooperate with the brim to clamp the hat brim between said flange andbrim, said block and stand being provided with conduits to permit thepassage of steam through said hat, an adjustable topper adapted to fitinto the flange stand against the hat crown to give form to said crown.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLIFFORD V. MILLIGAN.

Witnesses:

E. V. HARDwAY, FLORENCE JOHNSTON.

